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Chemotion ELN

chemotion.net

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Spec score 8.4 #6 of 23 in Electronic Lab Notebook Software

What it is

Chemotion ELN is a web-based electronic laboratory notebook for research data, with a focus on chemistry. It organizes projects into collections and supports records for samples, reactions, wellplates, research plans, QR codes, barcodes, and analytical data through ChemSpectra. Sample records can hold molecular structures, amounts, and properties such as purity, while reaction records capture conditions and products. Instrument data can be added by email, networked storage, or manual transfer, with documented examples including NMR, GC, and LC. Accounts belong to individual users, while shared and synchronized collections allow sharing elements and assigning roles. The system can transfer selected information to Chemotion Repository for sharing and archiving, and supports OpenStats and a TLC Image Annotation Tool. Groups, institutions, and universities can install it on their own IT facilities using the documented Docker-based approach. Free academic use is a project principle. A test version is available for demonstration and time-limited evaluation, but data may be lost and some functions are unavailable. Chemotion requires a network connection, has no standalone version, and recommends Chrome because some functions are limited in Firefox and Edge.

Spec sheet

Purpose
Chemotion ELN is an open-source electronic laboratory notebook for research data management, initially aimed at chemists and also used by researchers in fields including biochemistry.Read 5 Oct 2026 · chemotion.net
Intended users
The project says the ELN was initially targeted at chemists and has attracted interest from other fields, particularly biochemistry.Read 4 Oct 2026 · chemotion.net
Deployment
For routine use, groups, institutions, or universities can install Chemotion ELN on their own IT facilities using ChemCLI or a manual installation.Read 5 Oct 2026 · chemotion.net
Integrations
The ELN supports OpenStats and a TLC Image Annotation Tool as third-party applications.Read 4 Oct 2026 · chemotion.net
Security
The documentation says Chemotion passwords are encrypted and describes password hashing for database authentication.Read 4 Oct 2026 · chemotion.net
Support
Users can contact the team through the Helpdesk, and the project offers a live demo and Q&A session every three months plus introductions or group workshops on request.Read 5 Oct 2026 · chemotion.net
Academic access
The project describes free access and use by academic researchers as one of its principles.Read 5 Oct 2026 · chemotion.net
Audit limitations
The FAQ says versioning and auditing systems are currently being worked on.Read 5 Oct 2026 · chemotion.net
Authentication
Authentication options include database login and configurable third-party providers such as Shibboleth, OpenID Connect, ORCID, GitHub, and NFDI AAI; the page says database passwords are hashed.Read 5 Oct 2026 · chemotion.net
Browser limitation
Chrome is recommended; Firefox and Edge have limited functionality in some areas, including collection management and ChemSpectra.Read 4 Oct 2026 · chemotion.net
Demo
A freely available test version is offered for demonstration and time-limited evaluation; the page cautions that data may be lost and some functions are unavailable.Read 4 Oct 2026 · chemotion.net
External tools
The documentation lists OpenStats and a TLC Image Annotation Tool as supported third-party applications, which administrators can configure to receive compatible datasets.Read 5 Oct 2026 · chemotion.net
Free access
The project states that free access and free use by academic researchers is one of its principles.Read 4 Oct 2026 · chemotion.net
Instrument data
Device data can be collected through email, networked storage, or manual transfer, with documented examples covering analytical instruments including NMR, GC, and LC.Read 5 Oct 2026 · chemotion.net
Network and browser
Chemotion ELN is web-based, requires a network connection, and recommends Chrome; the documentation says some functionality is limited in Firefox and Edge.Read 5 Oct 2026 · chemotion.net
Network requirement
Chemotion ELN is web based and requires a network connection; the FAQ says there is currently no standalone version.Read 4 Oct 2026 · chemotion.net
Operating requirements
Suggested minimum installation resources are 4 x64 CPUs, 8 GB memory, and 300 GB disk for the operating system, Docker, and ELN, plus at least 100 GB for each attached device.Read 5 Oct 2026 · chemotion.net
Reactions
Users can document reactions involving samples and record reaction conditions and products.Read 4 Oct 2026 · chemotion.net
Repository connection
The ELN can connect to the Chemotion Repository to transfer selected research information for sharing and archiving.Read 4 Oct 2026 · chemotion.net
Research records
The ELN organizes projects in collections and supports samples, reactions, wellplates, research plans, QR codes, barcodes, and analytical data through ChemSpectra.Read 5 Oct 2026 · chemotion.net
Sample records
Sample records can include molecular structure, amount, and compound properties such as purity.Read 4 Oct 2026 · chemotion.net
Sharing
Accounts belong to individual users, while sharing elements and assigning roles is possible through shared and synchronized collections.Read 5 Oct 2026 · chemotion.net
Support and maintenance
The team recommends upgrading an instance at least once every three months to receive new features, bug fixes, and security patches.Read 4 Oct 2026 · chemotion.net
Supported host systems
ChemCLI builds are listed for Linux amd64, Windows amd64, macOS Apple silicon, and macOS amd64; Docker Engine and Docker Compose are required.Read 5 Oct 2026 · chemotion.net
Test instance
A freely available test version is offered for demonstrations and time-limited evaluation, but the makers warn that data may be lost and some functions, such as the SciFinder plug-in, are unavailable.Read 5 Oct 2026 · chemotion.net

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Supports sample, reaction, wellplate, and research-plan records.
  • Can capture instrument data by email, network storage, or manual transfer.
  • Selected research information can transfer to Chemotion Repository.
  • Free use by academic researchers is a stated project principle.
  • Supports multiple authentication options, including Shibboleth and ORCID.

Limits

  • Requires a network connection and has no standalone version.
  • Some functionality is limited in Firefox and Edge.
  • The test instance may lose data and lacks some functions.
  • The team recommends upgrading instances at least every three months.

Who it suits

Chemotion ELN is aimed initially at chemists and has also attracted interest from other fields, particularly biochemistry. It suits research groups and institutions able to host and maintain a web-based system.

Verdict

Chemotion ELN offers chemistry-oriented research records, instrument-data workflows, and institutional self-hosting. Its network requirement, browser limitations, and current audit limitations are important operational considerations.

Where Specifiction places it

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